Fat finders

We asked a guinea pig, er, SELF fitness director Meaghan Buchan, to test three body-fat measuring methods. “Numbers on a regular scale can be deceiving, especially for athletes like me,” Meaghan says. “Knowing your body fat paints a more accurate picture of your health.” Here’s how the tests—and she—measured up.

DXA Short for dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, this head-to-toe scan determines fat, muscle and bone-density levels and distribution. Results are highly accurate, but it will cost you $300 to $400 out of pocket and must be done by a technician at a radiology lab. Meaghan’s body fat: 14 percent.

Bioelectric impedance scales Slightly less precise but more wallet-friendly than a DXA scan, these scales send a weak, painless electric current through your body; the more fatty tissue you have, the slower the signal travels. We tested the Tanita BC533 InnerScan Body Composition Monitor ($115, TheCompetitiveEdge.com). Meaghan’s body fat: 14.3 percent.